ShrinkingBiker

It depends on a lot of factors. your location, the time it will take, is it something you will be adding to a portfolio for future work? We know this is for a brochure for a doctor, so it will not be a large circulation, not sure on the size of his business though. You could ask for a flat day rate of $250-1000 or you could see what they are offering and make that choice.. I would Iron that out before Friday though. He may think you are doing this for free out of gratitude.. Which should not be the case, after all you paid him for his services.

I made the choice on a few reasons.. First, my doctor said the band at some point would probably need to be removed.. Another surgery. Second, I've seen people I know with the band that just ate right through it and while they lost weight they also gained at least half back. Third, the sleeve was a safer option in my eyes once passed the healing stage there where less complications compared to the other two options. My doc said the band can cause irritation to the stomach where it is wrapped, and RNY has dumping syndrome, and can cause issues with absorption of needed Vitamins. There where other reasons (didn't really want something implanted it me) but I am very happy with the choice to get the sleeve, and I can't wait to hit my goals and have a happy and healthy life once again. No matter what your choice, I wish the same for you

same.. mine has steristrips and clear plastic over them.. granted they only lasted 5 days, but just normal showering (not too long) should be fine.

Welcome! I was sleeved on 4/20 and was 6 lbs heavier then you at my peak (before the pre-op diet) Today I am down 40 lbs already! It is the best choice I have made next to asking my wife to marry me. It has it's moments of struggle just like anything else, but it is a very effective tool to help us get healthy and happy again

I have and still struggle with this. I'm about to move into soft solids.. The only thing that has worked for me. (my mind is still thinking big portions my stomach is NOT) is to use a kitchen scale and only put 2.5 oz or less on my plate. It's not so much that I am eating too much (I did that the first couple of times) it's that I put too much on the plate and can't finish it. Try starting out with 2oz see how you feel, and increase it by .1 oz each time until you find your bellies sweet spot where you are not too full but you are satisfied. It also depends on consistency of the foods. I had roast beef hash today that I got 3oz down, but chilli with meat last night I couldn't finish 2oz. It's really a guessing game, but I think it will get easier as you go further out. I've read that it is 6-8 weeks before swelling is gone and you get the true size of your new pouch.

I did a lot of reading before my surgery and this the the first I am hearing about this.. If anything my anxiety have improved a lot.

I don't get any more gas then normal now, but the first few days getting rid of the stuff they pumped into me was pretty bad. In bed though, my wife and I have our own horn section at times.

It gets better and better here on out. Glad you are feeling well(ish) angain!

I did for the few days or so.. nothing tasted normal and I felt like my tongue was coated.. I thought it was a side affect of the meds / anesthesia. It went away for me.. how far out are you? It could also be ingestion as well. Any issues with heartburn?

I bought a bunch of those small ziplock storage containers. It really helps.. I did toss the remaining cream of wheat though.. It just doesn't do well in the fridge for me. Turns into a solid brick. Soups though.. It takes me like 4-6 "meals" to finish off a can.

You WILL lose weight after the surgery.. How much, and if you keep it off it up to you, but I can tell you this is the best tool I have had to help me with my struggles. It helps making those big changes we have to make not as hard to do.

here is what my sheet says.. Ground lean meats (Meatloaf, meatballs, hamburger) poultry or fish cooked moist and soft chicken or beef stew Chili Tuna, chicken or egg salads scrambled eggs Beans Soups soft cheeses yogarts soft veggies (avoid corn, asparagus and salads) fruits without skins or seeds mashed ripe banana citrus without membrains high Protein Cereal like kashi hot cereals like cream of wheat and oatmeal mashed potato whole grain crackers, wheat thins, saltines, cheese its / nips avoid bread, Pasta and rice and anything you where allowed on liquids as well.

I am in the same boat. been on them for a few years and no problem. I did get off wellbutrin since surgery because the pills where too big.

Hope it went well Bertie. Was thinking of you today.

no test for me.. just asked questions about my life, my past, my weight and why I wanted to do this. Approval was sent the next day.

I was at your weight, and I'd love to know what other men have lost that where this size also.. So far I am a little over 2 weeks out and at my peak I was 326 before pre-op diet. I am now at 289 and able to fit into size 40 jeans. I was just barely fitting into 42's before probably should have worn 44's. My goal is 185 which is about where my brother sites who is the same height and looks like me.. He wears 32-34 jeans.

I was worried about comments as well.. My wife knew my plans all along and was super supportive. I told my step father, and he wasn't overly excited, but I explained my reasoning and he came around. I then told my mom and she asked questions but has been so supportive. I mentioned it to my sister at christmas and my middle brother knew since the summer. I didn't tell anyone else until the sunday before my surgery. That's when I told my father, step mother and youngest brother (I wasn't going to even tell them but they invited us over for St. Pats dinner so I had to explain why I wasn't able to eat the food and would be just having salad) I am sure that my father had a bunch of things to say, but he didn't say them to my face.. That's kind of the way that family works though.. Everything is said to others not the person they are talking about.. Kinda frustrating. Friends and extended family didn't know until after the surgery when my wife posted from the hospital.. Then I made her call my grandmother ASAP to let her know what was going on.. I just didn't want her to worry and I was going to let her know when I was better. It's a personal choice.. I would let those know who you feel you will need support from, but it's really nobodies business but yours.

Not a problem.. Water goes down easy for me, and it's always by my side. I try to take a couple sips every 10 minutes or so.. I was also begging for water in the hospital though.. maybe I'm just a water needing kinda guy.. lol I must have went through about 6 cups of ice chips in the little time I was there. I know it's gross.. but your urine will tell you a lot about dehydration.. you should strive for clear.. the darker it is the more water you need. I think at our stage in this, water is key.

The ricotta bake seems to hold down well for me. Ricotta cheese (I added some powdered spices to it to doctor it up) an egg mixed with the ricotta tomato sauce (I used borilla marinara) top with some mozz. cheese Bake in the oven on 425 for about 20 minutes until the top is browned. It gives a nice "real food" flavor. Cottage cheese is something I like.. I know others don't.. Cream of wheat isn't my fav. but I can eat it without issue so I try to have that. I was told no Pasta or breads, but I see others eat mac and cheese and I would really like some of that.. lol I also like Tuna. Another thing I made, my wife uses to spread on her crackers.. I took imitation crab meat (2 packs of the shredded style) 3 teaspoons of lemon juice 1tsp garlic powder 1tsp onion powder a little salt and pepper a table spoon of light mayo or tea spoon of extra virgin olive oil put it in a food processor until it's almost a paste. stick it in the fridge and you can take out a little bit at a time. Now, this is something my pallet likes. I like acidic tastes so ymmv.

Oh, and first week I was drinking a little more each day.. First day home was about 2 oz of broth, 2oz of carnation instant breakfast (I had to water it down because it didn't work well for me at first) and a bottle of water, second was the same with 4oz of each and double the water. Then I held at that until my 8th day. Week 2 I was able to get a little more "food" in and 3-4 bottles of water is pretty steady from then til now at just over 2 weeks out.. I moved to puree yesterday.. I had about 4oz of ricotta bake, a cup of juice, and some water melon. Also weight watchers fudge pops snack size are good for getting a little extra in, and sugar free ice pops work to give you a little bit of variety. Today I tried my first cream of wheat and it's pretty easy. I had about 4 small spoon fulls then stopped. I'll probably have another few in an hour or so. Then have a bit of something later in the evening. It's hard to learn to change your whole lifestyle over a day after surgery.. Even with the prep courses you still need to learn what you can eat and how to know when enough is enough.

It gets better.. Best advise I can give is to walk as much as you can.. even laps around your home.. That's what I did.. walk til I burped or farted.. lol Then on day 3 or 4 my mother came over and took me out to a park and we did about a 1-2 mile trail walk. I felt pretty crappy when I got home, but the next day I felt 10000 times better. I took my wife back 2 days later and we walked a little bit (not nearly as much as with my mom) and try to keep that up every few days.. even if it's around the block, or a store. Week 2 gets much easier, and it keeps improving every day. If you do have pain that persists for a long time and it seems abnormal give your doctor a call just to be safe.

very inspiring. I was just about at the same start weight as you, and just passed into the 280's 2 weeks out. I hope I see the same results. Thanks for posting this.

Thanks, I am doing really well.. I really want to ride my motorcycle, but the doc said wait 6 weeks, so May 1 is the day. I was able to comfortably eat a bit of ricotta bake last night which was nice. I've been good without naps for the most part. I was laid off a few months back so, it's mostly dealing with boredom, and frustration of not being able to lift heavy stuff. My wife is so supportive, but it sucks to have to ask her to take in the groceries, fill the aquarium move stuff, and so on.

It really took us time to figure out a sugar free drink.. We like lipton diet iced tea.. little aftertaste and very lemony.

I had one the other night.. I wasn't sure what I was allowed to take.. so I just took a dose of the pain killer that the doc gave me from surgery. It either worked, or knocked me out so either way it worked. I'm still not sure what types of meds I can take for headaches / migraines. Once in a while I get them so bad it makes me vomit. Very rare though. I'm pretty sure sometimes it relates to not enough Water intake, so I try to stay on top of that.